Deep well pump



May 10, 1966 .1. A. KNABE ETAL DEEP WELL PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1964 E Z 4mm m o .r Jm N M NM H0 R mm H H W Y B 7 w A V 2 May 10, 1966 J. A. KNABE ETAL DEEP WELL PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2 1964 JOHN A. K/VABE moms J KNABE INVENTOR5 THEIR AGl i T United States Patent 3,256,228 DEEP WELL PUMP John A. Knabe and Thomas J. Knabe, Rte. 1, Muenster, Terr. Filed Mar. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 348,650 Ciaims. (Cl. 103-167) This invention relates to pumps, and more particularly to deep well pumps such as used in oil wells and the like for pumping liquid from the bore hole of a well to the surface thereof.

Various pumps have been proposed heretofore, but these for the most part would sand up readily, which would necessitate frequent pulling of these pumps to repair or replace worn parts in order to keep these pumps operating properly.

The present pump is so constructed that it embodies features of both the insert type and the piston plunger type pump, which enables the handling of a large volume of fluid in such manner that the fluid passing upward into the pump and into a displacement chamber tends to exert opposing pressures on opposite sides of the plunger cups in such manner as to maintain the cups in expanded condition to enable the maximum pumping operation.

In the pumping of oil wells and other deep wells, the fluid flows from a porous strata such as sand, lime, and the like. In so doing, particles of sand, lime, and the like become entrained in the oil and thereby finds its way, as abrasive particles, into the pump, thus when the sand and other abrasive particles are drawn into the pump, these particles find their way above the cups thereof, since they are not readily discharged, and therefore when sand and the like becomes imbedded in the fibrous or leather cups, wear on the cups and on the pump barrel takes place.

In the present pump, the pump is pre-loaded with a clean fluid such as lubricating oil above the pump plungers in a substantially sealed tight chamber, so that no contaminated oil, which is being produced from the formation, can be drawn into the pump above the pistons and cups to be lodged there for abrasive action on the pump.

An object of this invention is to provide a reciprocating pump which has a chamber therein, which chamber is preloaded with a clean liquid, such as lubricating oil, so as to maintain clean liquid above the cups of the pump at all times.

Another object of this invention is to draw the oil or liquid being pumped into the lower end of a pump barrel by the suction of reciprocating plunger and to discharge this fluid out through the lower end of the pump barrel in such manner as to prevent the abrasives, which become entrained within the liquid, such as oil, water, or the like, being produced from going above the cups or plunger of the pump.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a pump a divided sealed chamber which is filled with a clean liquid such as lubricating oil, which chamber of the pump is so constructed as to be expansible without substantially varying the capacity of the sealed chamber.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pump which may be readily substituted for a conventional plunger type pump or for an insert type pump and which may be operated by conventional equipment.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pump having a displacement chamber and a sealed liquid chamber therein, which chambers are of equal capacity.

And still a further object of the invention is to provide a pump which is simple in construction, easy to operate, low in cost of maintenance, and low in the cost of manufacture.

With the above objects in view and others which will become manifest as the description proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts in the several views thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view through a cased well, showing tubing, rods, and a pump therein, with portions being broken away and shortened to show the details of constructions;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the pump within a well tubing, with parts thereof broken away and parts shown in elevation, and showing the pump plunger-s in one position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2,

looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with the pump shown in a slightly extended position to show the manner in. which the plungers operate within the respective cylinders and the manner in which the cylinders move relative to each other;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 6,

looking in the direction indicated 'by the arrows; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

With more detailed reference to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a cased well having a tubing 2 therein which tubing 2 extends to a point near the bottom of the well 1, which tubing 2 has a perforated nipple or pipe 4 on the lower end thereof. The lower length of the tubing 2 has a fitted seating collar 6 attached to the end thereof to form a tapered seat 8, in a conventional manner, to enable the tapered lower end 10 of a pump, generally designated by the numeral 12, to seat within the tapered seat 8. Packing rings or the like 14 on the pump 12 form a fluid tight seal between the pump 12 and the tu ing 2, in a manner well understood in the art of oil well pumps. The packing rings 14 are'fitted on a tubular member 16 which is screw threaded to the tapered lower end 10 of the pump 12 to hold the packing rings 14 in secure relation. A valve seat 18 is fitted within tubular member 16 in fluid tight relation and is adapted to have a valve, such as a ball standing valve 20, seat thereupon when fluid pressure in the pump 12 is in one direction and to unseat said valve when fluid is being drawn into the pump 12 from the bore hole of the well 1. The ball or standing valve 20 is retained within a casing which forms a valve chamber 22, the casing of which valve chamber is screw threaded to a bushing member 24, which bushing has longitudinal passages 26 drilled therethrough, which passages 26 interconnect valve chamber '22 and the chamber 27 in the lower end of pump cylinder 28. The bushing 24 has a recess 30 formed therein which extends axially upward into the lower portion thereof to form a valve chamber for a ball check valve 32, which ball check valve is adapted to seat on seat 34 when the liquid is exhausted from the lower end of pump cylinder 28 upon downward movement of plunger 35. The bushing 24 has radial passages 38 extending outward from recess 30 into the annular passage 40 above packing rings 14 and within tub-ing 2, so that upon downward movement of plunger 35, the liquid will be exhausted out of chamber 27 in the lower end of pump cylinder 28 and through longitudinal passages 26 into valve chamber 22, and, with ball standing valve 20 seated upon valve seat 18, the liquid discharged from chamber 27 will be forced upward to unseat ball check valve 32 so the liquid will flow out through radial passages 38.

The cylinder 28 has a screw threaded plug 31 threadably engaging the upper end thereof, which plug is perforate and is centrally threaded to threadably receive a tubular member 48 therein to extend upward therefrom. The screw threaded plug 31 has an upstanding rib 31a thereon to form a portion of a clutch member. A screw threaded plug 41a threadably'engages the lower end of the upper cylinder 42 of the pump and is centrally apertured to slidably receive tubular member 48 therethrough. The tubular member 48 is retained in cylinder- 42 by a plunger 58 secured to the upper end of the tubular member 48, when the screw threaded plug 42a threadably engages the cylinder 42. The plug 42a has a transverse groove 42b thereacross, which groove forms a complementary clutch member to enable the rib 31a to engage the groove to enable the rotation of cylinder 28 by turning of pump rod 44.

Upon reciprocation of cylinder 42 of pump 12, which cylinder is attached to pump rod 44, oil within chamber 46 within the upper end of cylinder 42 will pass down through tubular member 48 into the upper end of pump cylinder 28, and since plunger 35, on which cups 36 are mounted, is imperforate, the liquid, such as lubricating oil, will be retained within the upper portion of cylinders 28 and 42.

A plunger 50 is secured to the upper end of tubular member 48, which tubular member 48 is attached to the upper end of stationary pump cylinder 28 so, as the movable cylinder 42 moves downward over plunger 50, the oil or liquid within the chamber 46 will be exhausted downward from chamber 46 through tubular member 48 into the upper end of stationary pump cylinder 28. In so doing the plunger 35 will exhaust the oil being pumped from chamber 27 out through passages 26, and with the ball check valve 3 2 seated, the oil will be forced out through radial passages 38 into the annular passage 40 and thence upward around movable cylinder 42 to the top of tubing 2 to be discharged out through pipe 54.

The cylinder 42 has a screw threaded plug 41 threadably engaging the upper .end thereof, which plug 41 has a screw threaded connection 43 on the upper end thereof to threadably receive the pump rod 44, so as to form means of operating the pump. The screw threaded plug 41 has the lower end thereof centrally threaded to threadably receive the upper end of plunger rod 37 on which plunger 35 is mounted. This enables the pump rod 44 to move cylinder 42 and plunger 35 in unison.

As the pump rod 44 moves upward, the movable cylinder 42 will move upward, which will cause the plunger 35 to move upward. This movement will create a suction in chamber 27, which will draw oil into chamber 27 in the lower end of pump cylinder 28 from the formation through perforations 3 in perforated nipple 4, thence in through a gas anchor to draw the oil or other liquid upward by ball standing valve and through longitudinal passages 26 into chamber '27, whereupon the oil within chamber 29, which is in the upper end of pump cylinder 28, will cause the cylinder members to be lubricated with clean lubricating oil, whereupon, at the maximum upper end of the stroke of rod 37, the chamber 27 will be filled with crude oil or other liquid being pumped, and

upon being exhausted, the crude oil from chamber 27 v will pass downward through passages 26 to exhaust all oil and foreign particlesdown into chamber 22 and thence up by ball check valve 32 and out through radial pas- I lubricated with clean lubricating oil, the sand and foreign matter does not readily accumulate to cut into the walls of the pump or into the cups, thereby enabling the pump to be maintained in service for months, usually several times the life period of wearable pump parts such as valves and cups, and even cylindrical members.

The displacement in chambers 29 and 46 is substantially the same, therefore the oil contained in these chambers may be used over an indefinite period with a minimum of loss.

This pump is so constructed that it may be readily assembled and disassembled, should inspection or repair be necessary.

While the invention has been shown in one form, it is to be understood that changes in details may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Let- 'ters Patent is:

1. A deep well pump for use within a well tubing,

which pump comprises;

(a) a pair of relatively movable, axially aligned pump cylinders, which cylinders have chambers formed therein,

(b) a plunger in each said cylinder in slidable, sealing relation for pumping fluid,

(c) an elongated member secured to and extending from each said pump cylinder into the other of said pump cylinders and connected to said plungers in said respective cylinders,

((1) one of said elongated members in one said pump cylinder, which extends into the other of said pump cylinders being tubular for the passage of captive, non-contaminated fluid therethrough from one chamher in one cylinder into a chamber of the other of said cylinders, to perform a lubricating action on said plungers,

(e) one of said cylinders being stationary and fitted in fluid tight relation within the well tubing,

(f) a valved inlet within an end of said stationary cylinder which is fitted in fluid tight relation within the well tubing,

(1) said plunger in said stationary cylinder adapted to draw fluid being pumped thereinto through said valved inlet upon upward movement of said upper movable cylinder and said plunger of said stationary cylinder,

(g) a valved outlet intermediate said valved inlet and said plunger in said last mentioned cylinder,

(1) said plunger within said stationary cylinder adapted to move downward therein to discharge fluid being pumped thereby outward through valved outlet into the well tubing.

2. A deep well pump for use within a vertical well tubing, which pump comprises;

(a) a pair of relatively movable, vertically positioned, axially aligned pump cylinders, which cylinders have chambers formed therein,

(1) anchor means maintaining the lower-most of said cylinders stationary,

(b) a sealing member on said stationary cylinder to form a seal between said pump and said well tub- 8,

(c) a plunger in each said cylinder in sliding, sealing relation,

(1) one of said plungers having an opening formed therethrough,

(d) an elongated member axially connected to each said plunger, which members each extend to an end of the opposite cylinder and is fixedly secured thereto for coordinated movement with each said opposite cylinder,

(e) a pump rod connected to the upper-mostcylinder to impart relative movement to said cylinder and to the plunger in the lower-most cylinder,

(i) said chambers above the face of said plungers in each said cylinder having a captive, lubricating fluid therein,

(g) one of said elongated members being tubular and being connected to said plunger for passage for fluid through said tubular member and through said plunger,

(1) said elongated tubular member connecting the upper chamber of each said cylinder in fluid communication above the upper face of each said plunger,

(2) said lubricating fluid in said chambers of said cylinders being adapted to be circulated back and forth therebetween, through said elongated tubular member, upon relative movement of said plungers in said cylinders,

(h) The lower-most of said cylinders having a valved inlet in communication with the flui-d being pumped,

(1) said valved inlet being in communication with an expansible chamber below said plunger in said lower-most cylinder, which plunger is imperforate, and which plunger, upon upward movement in said cylinder, is adapted to draw fluid being pumped into the lower-most chamber of said lower-most cylinder,

(i) a valved outlet intermediate said lower-most chamber and said valved inlet for discharging pumped fluid into the well tubing,

(i) said upper-most cylinder having an opening in the bottom thereof which is adapted to draw fluid therein-to, upon downward movement of said uppermost cylinder and to discharge fluid being pumped outward through said opening into the well tubing upon upward movement of said upper-most cylinder by said pump rod.

3. A deep well pump for use within a well tubing, which pump comprises;

(a) a stationary cylinder adapted to be fitted in a well tubing, near the lower end thereof, in sealed relation,

(b) a perforate plug removably mounted in each end of said stationary cylinder,

(c) a movable cylinder associated with said stationary cylinder for longitudinal, axial movement with respect thereto,

(1) an imperforate plug closing the upper end of said movable cylinder,

(2) a pump rod connection formed on the upper end of said imperforate plug of said movable cylinder,

(d) an elongated tubular member mounted on and secured to the perforate plug on the end of said stationary cylinder and being in communication therewith, and extending into said movable cylinder,

(e) a perforate plunger mounted within said movable cylinder and being fitted therein in fluid tight, sealing relation, and being connected to said elongated tubular member in fluid communication so as to form a passage therethrough,

(1) each said cylinder above each said plunger of the respective cylinders being at least partially filled with a non-contaminated.lubricating oil, which lubricating oil is adapted to flow back and forth and forth from the respective cylinders through said tubular member upon relative reciprocation of said movable cylinder and said plunger in said stationary cylinder,

(13) an elongated plunger rod mounted on said irnperforate plug in said movable cylinder and extending downward into said stationary cylinder through said elongated tubular member,

(g) an irnperforate plunger mounted on. and secured to the lower end of said elongated member and being in sliding, sealing relation with said stationary cylinder,

(h) a pump rod adapted to be connected to said pump rod connection on said imperforate plug on the upper end of said movable cylinder to impart relative movement between said pump cylinders and between said pump plungers in the respective pump cylinders,

(i) a valved inlet formed in the lower end of said stationary cylinder adjacent said perforate plug to admit fluid into the lower end of said stationary cylinder, and

(j) a valved outlet formed within said stationary cylinder intermediate said plunger and said valved inlet to permit discharge of fluid from the lower end of said stationary cylinder into the well tubing.

4. A deep well pump for use in a well tubing, as defined in claim 2; wherein (a) said plungers each have a plurality of cups fitted thereon, which form said seals.

5. A deep well pump for use within a well tubing, which pump comprises;

(a) a pair of relatively movable, axially aligned pump cylinders, which cylinders have chambers formed therein,

(b) a plunger in each said cylinder in slidable, sealing relation,

(1) one of which plungers has an opening formed therethrough,

(c) an elongated member secured to and extending from each said pump cylinder into the other of said pump cylinders,

(d) one of said elongated members in one said pump cylinder, which extends into the other of said pump cylinders, being tubular to form a passage for fluid therethrough and through said plunger having an opening formed therethrough,

(e) one of said cylinders being fitted in fluid tight relation within the well tubing,

(f) a valved inlet within an end of said cylinder which is fitted in fluid tight relation within said well tubing,

(g) a valved outlet intermediate said valved inlet and said plunger in said last mentioned cylinder,

(h) a pump rod associated with said cylinder remote firom said valved inlet to impart relative reciprocating movement between said pump cylinders,

(i) certain of said chambers Within said cylinders,

which are in communication with said tubular member, being at least partially filled with a lubricant,

(j) said plunger remote from said pump rod being adapted to create a suction on said inlet valve when said pump rod and the other of said cylinders are moved in one direction, to draw fluid into said cylinder in which said plunger is located and to discharge fluid out through said valved passage into the tubing, when said plunger is moved in the opposite direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 32,831 8/1861 Greenleaf 103-188 832,726 10/1906 Fenny 103-204 834,569 10/1906 Penny 103-204 862,456 8/1907 Fenny' 103-204 1,013,579 1/1912 Andrews 103-204 1,432,768 10/1922 McCallister 103-155 1,647,425 11/1927 Wise 103-204 1,807,741 6/1931 Kniss et al. 103-155 SAMUEL LEVIN, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Examiner.

W. L. PREEH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEEP WELL PUMP FOR USE WITHIN A WELL TUBING, WHICH PUMP COMPRISES; (A) A PAIR OF RELATIVELY MOVABLE, AXIALLY ALIGNED PUMP CYLINDERS, WHICH CYLINDERS HAVE CHAMBERS FORMED THEREIN, (B) A PLUNGER IN EACH SAID CYLINDER IN SLIDABLE, SEALING RELATION FOR PUMPING FLUID, (C) AN ELONGATED MEMBER SECURED TO AND EXTENDING FROM EACH SAID PUMP CYLINDER INTO THE OTHER OF SAID PUMP CYLINDERS AND CONNECTED TO SAID PLUNGERS IN SAID RESPECTIVE CYLINDERS, (D) ONE OF SAID ELONGATED MEMBERS IN ONE SAID PUMP CYLINDER, WHICH EXTENDS INTO THE OTHER OF SAID PUMP CYLINDERS BEING TUBULAR FOR THE PASSAGE OF CAPTIVE, NON-CONTAMINATED FLUID THERETHROUGH FROM ONE CHAMBER IN ONE CYLINDER INTO A CHAMBER OF THE OTHER OF SAID CYLINDERS, TO PERFORM A LUBRICATING ACTION ON SAID PLUNGERS, 